Roadbed construction for toy railways



April 14, 1931- c. R. PETERSON, JR `1,800,956

ROAD BED CONSTRUCTION FOR TOY RALWAYS Filed NOV. 28. 1930 INVENTOR R www Rdezzs'on J:

BY ,www Fre/EJ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES CLARENCE B. PETERSON, JR., OF PELHAM MANOR, NEW YORK BOA'DBED CONSTRUCTION FOB '.LOY RAILWAYS Application filed November 28, 1930. Serial No. 498,573.

The standard and common form of tracks for toy railways are made up of detachably connected track sections of relatively light metal with the ends of the cross ties extending laterally beyond the rail members. These track sections are often supported upon hard floors, resulting thereby in noisy operation of the trains as they pass along the track member.

This invention is an improvement on, and simplification of, the construction disclosed and claimed in my Patent 1,783,367, granted December 2, 1930, and comprises an imitation road bed for toy railway trackways 16 which will act as a sound-deadening cushion therefor.

One object of the present invention is to provide a construction which is very readily attachable and removable from the toy rail- 20 way track sections of the usual standard con struction, and which is held thereto by friction or the resiliency of the parts without separate locking means therebetween.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imitation road bed construction which permits the full exposure and accessibility of its track member, and which holds the track member and road bed against relative lateral movement in a very slmple manner.

In carryin out my invention, I provide imitation roa bed sections which are adapted to be placed in abuttin relationship to form a continuous support or the completed railway track. Each section may be co-extensive in length with its associated track section, and includes a base layer of rubber or other sound-deadening material, having on both sides thereof upwardly extending flanges which are so ositioned as to permit the placing of the track sections therebetween. These flanges extend along the side of the base layer so as to form a channel therewith, and abut the ends of the cross ties of the track sections, so that said sections are held thereby against lateral movement. The relative lon 'tudinal movement between the track sections and their associated road bed sections is prevented by the frictional engagement ofthe bottom and ends of the cross ties with the base layer and flanges respectively. If desired, however, in order to insure against relative longitudinal movement of the road bed sections with respect to their associated track sections, the flanges may have projecting members which abut the sides of the cross ties, so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the-track sections with respect to their associated road bed sections. The top of the flanges of the road bed sections is advantageously molded in imitation of railroad ballast, thereby effecting the simulation of natural railway construction and rendering the assemblage more appealing.

It should be noted that the arrangement of the present invention permits of a cheap construction, and provides a very simple construction which may be assembled or taken apart by a child. This arrangement also permits full exposure and accessibility of the track sections so that any readjustment of the track sections after they are assembled can be easily effected.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this inventionwill be particularly pointed out in the ap` pended claims, the invention itself, as to tits objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of two toy railway track sections connected together and supported by imitation road bed sections constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an imitation railway section adapted to support a straight track section.

Fi 3 is a perspective view of an imitation. road ed section adapted to support a curved track section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an imitation road bed section adapted to support a crossover track section, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an imitation road bed section adapted to support aswitch track section.

y Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The present invention is particularly adapted forl use with the ordinary standard toy track sections. These standard track sections usuall are of light metal and include a pair of para lel running rails 10, and a current-distributing rail 11 extending therebetween. The three rails are supported and held together by means of cross ties 12, the ends of which extend laterallyr beyond the rails 10.

The present invention provides an imitation road bed construction whichconsists of sections capable of being assembled so as to accommodate the ordinary track sections of the various shapes and sizes. For instance, in Fig. 2 there is shown an imitation road bed section ada ted for use with a straight track section, an includes a base layer 13 having flanges 14 which are transversely spaced to permit the-placing of the track sections'therebetween. These anges 14 are spaced so that the edges of the flanges abut the ends of the cross ties, andare integral -with the base layer 13. The parts are molded from someresilient material, such as rubber com osition, and are preferably of such length t at they are co-extensive with the particular standard ao sections which they are adapted to accommodate.

In order to effect a more realistic appearance, the top of the flanges may be molded in simulation of railroad ballast, and the whole assembly may be roughened and colored in order to increase its appealing effect.

The track sections are supported merely on their corres onding road bed sections, and are held there y against relative longitudinal movement by the frictional engagement between the bottom and end of the cross ties 12, and the base layer 13 and the iianges 14. The distance between the flanges may be very slightly less than the length of the cross ties, so that in assembling, the base is slightly stretched vand the flanges have a gripping action. The road bed sections are shaped in accordance with the standard shape of the track sections. For instance, in Fig. 3, there is shown a road bed section adapted to accommodate a curved track section; in Fig.- 4,

there is shown a road bed section having corner flanges or projections 15 adapted for the accommodation of a cross-over track; and in Fig. 5, there is shown a road bed section having a flange 14 and other flanges 16 and 17 adapted for use with a switch track section. These track sections are of ver cheap construction, and are built so that t e can be assembled with their associated trac sections and detached therefrom in very short time. No adjustment `of holding means is necessary. The only operation necessary to effect any detachment of the track sections lit is necessary to readjust the connection from their corresponding road bed sections is one which merely lifts or pulls the sections from their associated road bed sections. The. assembly of the road bed sections and the track sections is effected just as easily.

This arrangement permits the full exposure of the track sections, `and permits ,ready accessibility thereto. Very frequently, after track sections have been assembled, 73

therebetween. By means of the present arran ment, the easy accessibility of the trac s permits this particular operation to be more easily effected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l1. An imitation roadbed adapted for use in connection with a separate. and detachable toy railway track section which has rails and cross ties, said road bed including a base layer constructed of resilient composition and adapted tosupport said cross ties, and flanges integral with the base layer and disposed in abutting engagement with the ends of the cross ties foi'.` holding said track sections against lateral movement with respect to said layer but permittin read separation of said road bed and said trac sections, said road bed being adapted to hold said track section between the flan es thereof with said track section substantial y exposed to view.

2. An imitation road bed adapted for use in connection with a separate and detachable toy railway track section which has rails and cross ties, said road bed including a base la er constructed of rubber composition and a apted to support said cross ties, said layer having integral flanges disposed in abutting engagement with the ends of the cross ties for holding said track sections against lateral movement with respect to said layer but permitting ready separation of said road bed and said track sections, said flanges extending continuously along the sides of the base la er and having the tops thereof ornamente in imitation of railroad ballast.

3. An imitation road bed adapted for use '115 in connection with a separate and detachable toy railway track section which has rails and cross.y ties, and comprising a channel strip of rubber composition, the base layer being adapted to support the cross ties and the me side flanges being adapted to frictionally en age the ends of the ties to hold the parts m assembled relationship. Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this-25th 125 i day of November A. D. 1930.

CLARENCE R. PETERSON, JR. 

